John MahamaOn the back of the violent incident recorded Thursday during the Ayawaso West Wuogon, former president John Mahama has served notice no political party in Ghana can unleash violence than the National Democratic Congress. “I want to sound a caution that NDC has a revolutionary root and when it comes to unleashing violence no one can beat us to that,” he told delegates of the party Thursday at Adaklu in the Volta Region. He said the NDC has had to tame itself over the years because of the fact that it gave birth to the current democracy being enjoyed in the country, which he said the party respects and protects. Mr. Mahama who is seeking the mandate of the delegates to lead the party into the next election said it is because NDC respects the country’s democracy and rule of law “that is why we are acting as a party that is very docile”. The former president was commenting on the by-election violent incident that caused the NDC to withdraw all its agents at the over 100 polling stations in the Ayawaso West Wuogon as it announced a pull-out from the election. Some heavily armed masked men invaded Delali Kwasi Brempong’s house behind the La Bawaleshie Presbyterian Basic 1 School which was serving as a polling centre in the by-election. Persons in the storey-building were said to have been ordered down and before they could comply, the armed men started shooting, injuring at least six persons who have since been treated and discharged.
The incident has received wide condemnation by the NDC, security experts and other various stakeholders including CODEO and the NCCE. Quoting the MP for Adaklu, Mahama said “the stupidity that happened in Ayawaso West Wougon, I don’t think it can happen here at Adaklu” He condemned the incident and said what happened during the by-electionThursday has been an eye-opener for the NDC, and that the party will not joke in the 2020 general elections.
He said it was unfortunate that the New Patriotic Party “is taking this power as a matter of life and death,” claiming the NPP was just “acting out and living the reality of the all die be die” mantra. “We are not going to joke in 2020 and I’m sounding a warning to the NPP, were are going to match them boot for boot,” he declared. We’ll resist subversion While he said the NDC respects the country’s constitution, they will not sit aloof for their people to be intimidated and injured by the violence of anyone because the same 1992 constitution encourages the people to resist subversion “…The same constitution says that Ghanaians should resist anybody who attempt to subvert the constitution and when you go rampaging with forces and intimidating people when they should come out and vote, you’re subverting Ghana’s constitution and we have the right to resist you. [L-R] John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo in the run up to the 2016 general elections“If we believe that the government cannot protect the people and we believe that the government is using its vigilante groups and illegal forces to intimidate and harass and injure our people, then we will have to advise ourselves,” he warned. He has meanwhile asked party supporters and all members to remain firm and go about our their duties peacefully. By Stephen Kwabena Effah|editors.3news.com|GhanaFollow @steviekgh_TV3
